Dubai teacher wins Dh220,200 award

Dubai - During the awarding ceremony on Wednesday, Massaqoi was described as someone who is "gifted in fulfilling students' potential through a love of music".

A music schoolteacher in Dubai, who said she got into the profession "by chance", has won the second Mariamma Varkey Award for Inspirational and Outstanding Teaching at Gems.
Receiving a cash prize of $60,000 (Dh220,200), Heather Massaquoi of Bradenton Preparatory Academy - Sports City, won the 'most inspirational teacher' award. She was among 44 other nominees from the Gems UAE network.
Speaking to Khaleej Times after her "shock" win, Massaquoi - who has been teaching for 19 years - said it was on a gap year in Southern Africa after finishing university when she accidently fell into a teaching role.
"I travelled abroad to do an overseas programme in music therapy but the company lost all my paperwork," she said. "When my papers finally arrived, I was in a bank sorting my documents, and I got chatting to a principal of a local school. He found out I was involved in music and said I would love it at his school."
And within a matter of days, she had taken up a teaching role there. "I loved every minute of it and realised I wanted to be a teacher. So after one year, I went back to Canada and got my teaching degree."
The shock win
During the awarding ceremony on Wednesday, Massaquoi was described as someone who is "gifted in fulfilling students' potential through a love of music". And for her, it will shed some much needed light on music lessons in schools.
"Often, we are the forgotten subject. Many people think music is just there for fun. But music is the basis for making students leaders. It helps them concentrate, encourages determination, and it's a soothing subject, too," she said.
Massaquoi said what she often notices in the classroom is the sense of calm it brings to students. "If I have students who are having a difficult time in other lessons, they are completely different when they enter my classroom. The repetition and linguistics embedded in music really ground students and it's a great aid for students where English is their second language."
The award
Four other teachers were winners on the night, each of whom were already recognised with the Gems teacher of the month awards at their respective schools. The finalists were broadly classified under five categories: 'Most inspirational teacher', 'early years teaching', 'primary years teaching', 'secondary years teaching' and 'special education teaching'.
And each winner of the other four categories were given $24,000 (Dh88,080) as cash prize along with a citation.
Calling teaching one of the "most noble professions" from which everyone else is "born and nurtured", Dino Varkey, chief executive officer, Gems Education, said they have spent a lot of time trying to shine a light on the role of teachers in society.
"For our winners and finalists, this is now their pedestal to continue showcasing their skills as the best educators."
And he said the fact that music teacher Massaquoi won the overall prize is a big statement for the arts subjects.
"Music, the arts and humanities are so important in today's society. You need to be taught the values of liberal arts to understand people in today's world. This is a great platform for music and arts in schools."
And the winners are:
> Sharon Robertson from Gems Wellington Primary School for 'early years teaching'
> Anthony Riley from Gems Royal Dubai School for 'primary years teaching'
> Neez Hashim from Our Own English High School, Fujairah, for 'secondary years teaching'
> Suzie Hachez from Cambridge International School - Dubai for 'special education teaching'       
kelly@khaleejtimes.com